A group of paleontologists discovered a new species of fossil turtle and named it in honor of the singer Shakira.
Named Shakiremys colombiana, this species was found by paleontologists from the South American nation in the Tatacoa Desert.
The discovery was made by specialists from the Universidad del Rosario de Colombia and corresponds to a specimen from the Middle Miocene.
In particular, the specimen is estimated to be 13 million years old.
A complete and unique fossil turtle
The specimen found includes a complete skull and two articulated shells, making it one of the most complete fossils ever discovered in the region.
According to the Universidad de Rosario, the anatomical features of this turtle make it a unique set never before seen in other specimens of the Podocnemididae family.
The team was comprised of four paleontologists and a university student, along with the Museum of La Tatacoa.
The specialists worked for two and a half years on the excavation, preparation, and scientific analysis.
When announcing the new species, Andrés Vanegas, director of the Museum of La Tatacoa, admitted that “it is something never seen before“.
What the Shakiremys colombiana was like, the fossil turtle named in honor of Shakira
The turtle was small, with a shell that did not exceed 40 centimeters in length.
Through computed tomography, scientists reconstructed its neuroanatomy and discovered unique adaptations:
- Dorsally oriented orbits: its eyes looked upwards, indicating it inhabited the bottom of bodies of water;
- Shell notch: it had a U-shaped cut near the neck that gave it greater cervical mobility;
- Ecological versatility: it could adapt to various aquatic ecosystems, from lakes to rivers;
- Omnivorous diet: it fed on different sources, both plant and animal.
Edwin Cadena, lead paleontologist of the research, explained that this versatility “would have allowed it to coexist with various turtle species in the diverse aquatic ecosystem that existed in the Tatacoa area millions of years ago”.
The Shakiremys could live in both dark and clear waters, an uncommon adaptability in its family.
The tribute to Shakira from science
The name combines the surname of Shakira with the Greek root “emys”, which means freshwater turtle.
The researchers decided on this tribute for multiple reasons: the artist’s music accompanied their fieldwork days in the desert.
The team also found connections between paleontology and the singer’s lyrics, such as the phrase “We are branches of the same old tree”, which reflects the study of common ancestors.
One of the verses from the song ‘Pies descalzos’ fits with the morphology of the turtle: “For millennia and millennia you remained naked. And you faced dinosaurs under a roof and without a shield”.
Before the public announcement, the scientists contacted the Barranquilla native and received her approval to use her name.
Paleontologist Cadena noted that using the name of such an influential figure is an effective strategy for scientific communication, bringing topics that seem distant closer to the general public.
The scientific importance of the discovery
The finding is crucial for understanding the evolution of turtles that today inhabit the main river systems of northern South America: Amazonas, Orinoco, and Magdalena.
The specimen of Shakiremys colombiana is currently on display at the La Tatacoa Natural History Museum, located in La Victoria, Huila.
This discovery consolidates the Tatacoa Desert as one of the most important fossil deposits in South America for the study of the prehistoric past.
